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How Kwara Government Renovated Stadium’s Indoor Sports Hall With N72Million On Paper With Nothing On The Ground To Show For It
In this investigation, THE INFORMANT247’S YEMI SODEEQ who visited the indoor sports hall of the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin, writes that despite the release of over N72 million for its renovation, the old sporting facility is in shambles, housing reptiles and downsizing the momentum of sporting men and women who ought to be training at the facility.
It was a sunny Monday afternoon and a training day for Volleyball players at the Kwara State Stadium complex. Adedayo Oke, the Captain of the Kwara United Volleyball Club who also doubles as the Assistant Coach of Volleyball in the State, stood at a corner inside the gigantic Indoor Sports Hall of the stadium.
Oke was visibly worried. At some points, he was lost in thought when this reporter approached him to inquire about the state of the complex.
He looked up with a jolt, sighed and before he could utter a single word, Oke reached for an old bag of sacks and brought out several damaged balls.
He then began to narrate how they are facing difficulties trying to access the facility.
“It is quite obvious, especially to those familiar with this stadium, that this facility is in a state of despair. This floor is no longer good for the safety of players and the equipment we use. The balls and other sporting equipment have become an endangered species, with irons and metals inside the hall pushing them to a short life span,” Oke lamented.
The volleyball skipper further noted that the ramshackle hall is having adverse effects on how long their balls can be used. By that expression, Oke’s argument suggests that the deteriorating condition of the facility is taking some economic toll on their pockets. “You can see we now have less than two balls in good condition. We used to have ten balls, but the balls have been deflated by pins and nails around here,” he added, stressing that each volleyball cost between N40,000 to N45,000.
A Shadow Of Its Old Self
The Kwara State Stadium Complex is an expansive edifice cherished by the sports-loving Kwara residents. From the gate to the training pitches, swimming pool, outdoor twin basketball and volleyball courts, main bowl, football academy and indoor sports hall, the stadium complex stands out as the first of its kind in the country.
The arena, built in 1977 by the then military administrator of the state, the late Brigadier-General George Innih, remains one of the stadiums in the country owned by a state government, with a large concentration of sports, numbering 28 in the whole complex. It hosted the 1985 National Sports Festival, and it has also hosted several other important sports tournaments, like the World Handball Championship in 1991, among others.
The multi-sports ‘Indoor Sports Hall’ inside the complex, among many other sporting events, could host basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, boxing, judo, and taekwondo including all para-sports for disabled athletes. The structure, which houses offices of the Kwara State Sports Commission, also by extension has places for games like dart and weightlifting.
However, this all-important facility is in shambles presenting a leaky roof, broken chairs for spectators and damaged air conditioners. The place becomes uninhabitable, especially during the rainy season. It’s now a place for reptiles and other dangerous animals.
N73 Million Is Spent Without Accountability
Records obtained by The Informant247 show that in 2021, the sum of N72,485,773.22 was released for the rehabilitation of the edifice.
Records from Kwara State’s financial statement obtained by this medium show that a total sum of N516,180,034.00 was earlier budgeted for the renovation of the hall in the 2021 financial year.
About 7 months into 2022 and despite the evidence of the release of N73 million naira, not a single inch of renovation has been started at the facility. Our correspondent reports that the facility remains in shambles and no work has started even after the release of funds.
The edifice has severely deteriorated, and the environment has become very filthy. The chairs in the spectators’ sitting area are broken, and some have fallen off their positions. The metal at the edge of the broken seats, according to players, destroys balls every now and then.
Broken Chairs
The floors are impassable and windows have been blown off by the windstorm. The playing tracks have worn off completely. Whenever it rains, it is flooded for several hours.
The roof is blown off and the walls present easy passage for lizards and other reptiles. Just like the roof, there are gaping holes on the floor, as well. A peep into the office area showed that the terraces were equally damaged.
The main entrance to the hall itself is dilapidated. The famed hall where some of the country’s best trained before international championships, is now in a sordid state.
Barrage Of Lamentation
Players and other users of the Kwara State sporting facility continue to express their disaffection with the condition of the facility and how it continues to weaken their morale.
Olasunkanmi Abdulhameed, a basketball player who was training inside the hall says the state government has not done anything recently to put the facility in shape.
“They are not doing anything here, for now, absolutely nothing,” he stated.
“I’ve been training here for the past 2 years. They only worked on some other facilities. Nothing was done here. Everything is unkempt, it stinks too.”
An official of para games who spoke to The Informant247 but does not want his name mentioned for fear of victimization said: “Our government is just playing politics with that place. They go there, pay lip services and budget millions of naira for renovation, eventually, nothing will be done. I don’t think the government is actually ready to renovate this place.”
A member of the Kwara Badminton Veterans Club, Ahmed Ayinla berated the current standard of the hall, stressing that it no longer ticks the boxes of competition requirements.
“Going by a standard badminton hall, that place doesn’t meet the standard in terms of facilities like changing rooms, shower rooms, and even convenience,” he said. “The lighting within the hall is another major problem. Some of the games that could be played at night time now need ‘special provisions. The lights are no longer functioning. If not, there are some little provisions just to make sure that things are still going.
“The floor itself is old. It is supposed to be matted. It is very rare for you to see wood like this. It really affects the performance of the Athletes who train here on the wood and go out there to play on the mat,” Ayinla added.
A Table Tennis player, Bisola Asaju noted that, although a new hall is currently being constructed for the game, the players still have a lot to contend with regarding the Table Tennis section of the facility.
“One of the challenges we are facing here is the loose window at the roof that gives space for wind and this is not really good for our game because the wind used to disrupt the movement of balls.
“Anytime there is rain, we will need to stop the game because of some places where rain used to enter the hall. Some of our tables have now been spoiled by the rain,” said Bisola who added that the floor has also worn out and it is often difficult to play anytime there is no light.
An official of the Kwara State Sports Commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The renovation is long overdue. I could remember vividly when I was young, the hall played host to a lot of international competitions like the World Handball Military games. But in recent years, the state of the indoor facilities has become worrisome and it is a major concern for all stakeholders.
“The offices that surround the indoor sports hall are also affected and it is a gory sight during the rainy season and it is often more or less like we are outside anytime there is a downpour,” he added.
Kwara Sports Commission Reacts
When asked about the money released for the renovation of the indoor sports hall of the stadium, the Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Bola Magaji who also lamented the condition of the facility, said that he was not aware of any funds released for its rehabilitation.
“I am aware of the money released for the renovation of the swimming pool, the squash court and Handball, but I can’t say the same for this hall. You can see my office too. Is this how my office is supposed to be,” the chairman whose office is also within the complex said.
He said the Sports Commission only came on board last year, adding that details about the renovation of the Indoor sports hall weren’t contained in the inventory he took upon his assumption of office.
The Kwara State government on August 3, 2021, appointed board members for the Kwara State Sports Commission after the abrogation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development
Several attempts to reach the Commissioner of Finance, Olasumbo Florence and the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in the State, Barrister Iyabo Banire for comments were futile as they refused to pick up calls or reply to text messages.
This story was published with support from Civic Media Lab
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Ogun State Prominent Monarchs, Business Tycoons, Others Honor Olusho Agba At The Confession 2024
The Olusho Agba’s confession 2024 attracted more dignitaries as three respected monarchs in Ogun honour the event by physical appearance, alongside side most prominent CEOs in Ogun.
The royal fathers present at the laudable event held at Continental Suits in Abeokuta include HRM Oba Oyabanji Adetunji (Oloja Of Oja Odan) HRM Oba Buhari Makinde (Oniwoye of Iwoye Land) HRM. Oba Lukmon Kuoye (Olu of Imasayi).
Also Chief Executive Officer of IBD Foundation, Dr. Mrs. Lara Dende, the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited Amb. Dr Tunde Adeyemo and CEO of Zolakaz Oil and Gas Alh. Sanni Azeez was also present at the event.
The Confession 2024 features a series of content creators, comedians, singers and dancers, and artists of different fields such as Dr Smile, Hafeez Oyetoro (Simply Saka), Woli 3310, Chukwuka Jude, Babalegba
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Below are some pictures from the event…
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Wife drags Ex-UBA Top Shot, Samuel Eziafa Adikamkwu to court over abandonment of family, infidelity …….Petitions IGP over threat to life
Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu District and presided over by Justice M. Osho-Adebiyi, on Wednesday adjourned to January 19, 2025 a divorce case instituted by Mrs. Loretta Adikamkwu against her husband, Samuel Eziafa Adikamkwu, a former top official of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
The mother of four, Mrs. Adikamkwu has dragged her husband of over 31 years to court for divorce over abandonment of the family for more than four years and alleged infidelity.
According to court document seen by our reporter with Suit number PET/073/2023, Mrs. Adikamkwu alleged that her husband packed out of their matrimonial home at Recreation Drive, Cooperative Villas, Badore, Ajah, Lagos and removed almost all his belongings therefrom (which included personal chattels, clothing and six vehicles of assorted brands) leaving behind the petitioner only vehicle (a Toyota land Cruiser) he gave to her some years back.
She further alleged that Mr. Adikamkwu withdrew all financial support and upkeep to the family, prompting her to desperately begin to dispose of all her belongings, in order to feed herself, the children and meet urgent Sundry costs, arising from the running of the home.
She also alleged in Paragraph 6(c) of her petition that after her husband abandoned his family, he was said to have been cohabiting with a lady called Miss Stella Umejuru with whom he regularly travels outside Lagos for business.
Mrs. Adikamkwu declared that her husband, who was formerly a Lecturer at Bendel State University, (now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma before Ndidi Elumelu, his friend, facilitated his employment by the United Bank for Africa (UBA), has no reason whatsoever not to cater for his family as he is now engaged in booming property business after leaving the bank.
According to the lady, who is a graduate of Bendel State University, she would have been financially independent and be in position to cater for herself and the children but for her husband who stopped her from working several years ago.
She stressed that because of the financial difficulties she was facing with her children she was compelled to sell the Toyota land Cruiser which her husband gave to her some years back to maintain the house that was dilapidating, settle numerous bills, including electricity and other sundry expenses.
The lady lamented that her husband got furious when he heard she had sold the car and he succeeded in retrieving the vehicle from a car dealer and the issue is now a subject of police investigation as some unknown persons have been stalking her and threatening her life since the family feud erupted.
However, the Respondent vehemently denies the averments contained in paragraph 6(c) of the petition and states that he does not know, neither is he acquainted with anybody ( lady) called Miss Stella Umejuru, and denies that he lives or travels with either the said lady or any lady at all.
The Respondent also denied the assertions contained in paragraph 6(d) of the petition and denied that he has committed adultery or that he has deserted the petitioner.
He admitted he is no longer living in the family house in Lagos as he had to “temporally relocate to Abuja when he secured a Contract Appointment with The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc (AEDC) from 2021 to June, 2024.
Mr. Adikamkwu added an affidavit in response to his wife’s petition that he “is not aware that there is any debt burden on the family, but states that if there is any such debt, it is personal to the petitioner.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Adikamkwu has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over issues arising from the sale of the Toyota Land Cruiser which her husband gave her several years ago.
The letter to the IGP dated 4 October, 2024 titled “SOS-request for urgent intervention in a case of forgery, threat to lives and high handedness by officers of the Bar Beach Police Station, and Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos” was written on her behalf by one of her Lawyers, Benjamin Nwaokenye, Esq of Integrity Partners law firm, Abuja.
Part of the letter reads: “We are solicitors to Mrs. Loretta Adikamkwu (hereinafter referred to as “Our client”, at whose behest, we act in this matter. We write to seek your urgent intervention in a looming threat to the life of our client, and a seeming case of forgery perpetrated against her, by Ojebola and Messrs, Sam Adikamkwu, Segun Ajide, Gbenga ASP Churchill of the Bar Beach Police Station, Lagos.
To put this matter in the right perspective, we are reliably informed by our aforesaid client that: (a) She was hitherto married to one Mr. Sam Adikamkwu , from whom she is now separated and now locked in a bitter judicial process, in a petition for divorce in PET/073/2023, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja).
“(b) The aforesaid Mr. Sam Adikamkwu, prior to the aforesaid divorce proceedings, vacated their Badore (Ajah) residence, where he hitherto resided with our client, and removed almost all his belongings therefrom (which included personal chattels, clothing and six vehicles of assorted brands) leaving behind our client, only vehicle (a Toyota land Cruiser) he gave to our client some years back, and strangely, a short machine gun, which was discovered in his wardrobe, in the course of cleaning the house, having forgotten to lock the bedroom door. ( see attached pictures)
The aforesaid Mr. Adikamkwu, it must be reiterated, withdrew all financial support and upkeep to our client and the family, prompting our client to desperately begin to dispose of all her belongings, in order to feed herself, the children and meet urgent Sundry costs, arising from the running of the home.
“In the course of disposing of her personal belongings, our client contacted one Mr. Segun Ajide, a car dealer, to assist in disposing off her Toyota land cruiser, and thereupon delivered to him, the Original custom and purchase papers of the vehicle, which the dealer demanded.
“Mr. Ajide sold our client’s vehicle, debited her with some colossal costs and remitted the balance to our client.
“Weeks afterwards, Mr. Ajide contacted our client to inform her that the vehicle had been impounded from the purchaser by Mr. Adikamkwu, with the help of one Mr. Churchill of the Bar Beach Police Station, and thereupon requested our client to intervene.
Our client insisted on intervening only if a formal invitation was sent to her, which the aforesaid persons could not procure, but resorted to harassing our client.
“Mr. Segun was later to inform our client that the vehicle had been released to Mr. Sam Adikamkwu by the Bar Beach Police Station
“Upon the request of our client to Mr. Segun Ajide for copies of all documents related to the sale, Mr. Ajide was evasive, until Mr. Adikamkwu filed his answer to our client’s petition wherein, it was discovered that several documents were forged by Mr. Ajide and the eventual purchaser Mr, Odebola, in the alleged sale without probable cause. .
“Prior to discovering the forgery, our client had been trailed by strange people, who at different times followed her home, and even laid siege on her place of resident at Recreation Estate Badore, forcing her to flee for her safety, to an unknown location.
Our client a few days back, received a WhatsApp invitation from the Nigeria Police Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, which directed her to meet up with someone, only whose phone numbers were stated in the invitation, but upon calling the line, our client was shocked, that the number was not allocated, causing more anxiety that, it must be a setup.
“Sir, our client is unable to carry on her normal business and live a normal life because, she has been living in fear for her safety, believing her life is endangered by the activities of Messrs. Adikamkwu, Ajide and Odebola, who from all indications, are behind her travails, having opted to brow’ beating her into retrieving the vehicle for them, and they are all men of means who can effectuate their threats.
“We are informed by our client also that, before the situation got to this dimension, Messrs. Ajide and Odebola, who from all indications, are behind her travails, had consistently called our client to know her where about, and had requested she came with them to see some policemen, without any arrest or invitation.
Sir, we solicit your esteemed indulgence to cause an investigation into this matter, to safeguard the life of our client from people who are determined to use their police friends, to intimidate and endanger our client, taking into consideration: (a) The forgeries executed by Messrs. Segun Ajide, Gbenga Ojebola and Sam Adikamkwu, using policemen from Bar Beach Police station, far removed from Ajah division of the police, in an attempt to cover same up, and revalidate their actions.
(b) The threat to our client’s life in the whole circumstance.
(d) The release of the vehicle By the Bar Beach police station, to Mr. Adikamkwu, without any probable cause.”
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